Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-10
SURPRISING IMPURE ART.
The w. G. r. d. Ask Merchant IN AID
Them and Produce the Law.

The womanS Christian Temperance Unions de.
partment for the Suppression o! impure literature
and art Of which Mrs Nellie a. Brady Is the
chairman, has issued to merchants and others a
circular, as follows: 'Dear Sir: VIII you kindly
aid US in enforcing the requirements OF the law al
found below, By refusing to display or offer for
sale illustrated sheets Or books OF an obscene or
doubtful character. We make this appeal TO you
because the purity and innocence OF childhood and
youth are being destroyed to an alarming extent
by those unclean displays and by the records or
vice, brutality, and crime that are found in their
columns. Help US for the childrens sake" The
law quoted is as follows: Revised statutes of the
United States, page 1OAa, section $3.50 Every
person who, within the District OF Columbia or
any OF the territories OF the United States or other
United States, sells, or gives away or in any man
ner exhibits or offers to SELL or 70 lend, or to give
away, or IN any manner to exhibit, or otherwise
Pa s or oilers TO publish In any manner, or
mas In his possession, for any such purpose, any
obscene book, pamphlet paper, writing, adver-
nen,, SrSuiaT print picture drawing or other
representation, ngure, or image on or OF paper or
other material, or any cast, Instrument, or other
aracie OF an immoral nature, or who advertises
be written or printed, any card circular, book,
pamphlet, advertisement or notice OF any kind,
stating wnen, where, how, or OF whom, or by what
before mentioned can be purchased or obtained;
or manufactures, draws or prints, or in any wise
makes any OF such articles, shall be imprisoned at
months nor more than ftve years for each ofIense,
or nned not less than 500 nor more than 8, 900.
with costs OF court.
SUPPRESSED BY THE POLICE
Saturday afternoon Sergt. Diggins, OF the first
precinct, called On Mr.. Jos. w. Reed, cigar and
tobacco dealer, at the northwest corner OF 9th
ana streets northwest, and notified him that a
procure IN MS WINDOW, cigarette sign, contain
Ing Photographs OF actresses in brief garments,
should pc removed, as it was objectionable. Mr..
heed sald that II 1t was asked by the w. c. T. U.
ne would not comply, but II 1t was an order OF
the District Commissioners or the police authori-
Ties. ne would comply with the request, as he was
iaW-aDldlng citizen. The sergeant told him
that ne had better move it to save the service OF
warrant. Mr.. Reed not being anxious to appear
at tne Police Court. complied with the request,
ana moved the objectionable picture. Yesterday
Ne calleu 10 see some OF the members OF the w. &.
T. u, put failed TO find them, and then called on
Major Moore, superintendent OF police and asked
MIN TO send some one to his store to designate
had better use his own discretion. Mr.. Reed re-
pied II ne did he would put all his pictures up,
1or ne old not recognize them being or the class
referred TO. Major Moore admitted that It was
difficult to draw the line.
Some OF the w. G. T. U. have furnished Mr.. A. s.
WOrtMngton, the United States district attorney,
with specimens OF illustrated papers and adver.
Using cards, which they claim are Of character
which should be suppressed Mr.. A. A. LpscOmb
one OF the has been given special charge
OF This matter, but, owing to his engagements IN
the McBr1de and Mcfarland cases, he mas not yet
been able TO examine into the subject with any
thOroughneSS. Members OF the bar and others as
Sert that the principal difficulty will be to deter
mine where the dividing line is